Mr. Conservative: Barry Goldwater's late career and libertarianism

[asubjectiveopinion]

American "liberals" are still depressingly right-wing by European standards.

[RyanJ504]

Not wanting to shove the bible down your throat and a surveillance camera up your ass makes you a liberal these days. I think your political beliefs are decided by answering one simple question: "What do you feel the government's role should be with its people?"

My answer is, "Very little". If that makes me a liberal, than the terminology changed. I didn't. Same thing with Goldwater.

[WSOR4025]

Not much "liberal" about Barry. Maybe a classical liberal but that is much more akin to libertarians today than progressive liberals today. I would say the modern day Goldwater is Ron Paul. Both take the oath of office to support and defend the Constitution very seriously both are not big on the social conservative issues and both believe very strongly in free markets. I wish Barry was still around so he could endorse Dr. Paul. That would send an earthquake through the Republican establishment.

[RonPaul2012vote123]

You know the name Liberal, Conservative, Republican, Democrat

liberals were about indivual freedom in early years.

Conservatives use to conserve the principles of the constitution not big goverment.

Republicans were for the republic, keeping the people free of goverment.

Democrats beleived in indivual freedoms for people to make choices But neo cons have jacked all these name even progressives.

STAND UP FOR YOUR CONSTITUTION

[return135]

2:27 Look at the size of that kids cranium!

[daltonj2317]

Libertarians > Every other party

[faithdefenderjmc]

He lived, breathed and bled the United States Constitution. The man had principles and convictions and lived by them until the day he died. He was a true conservative, despite the fact that the meaning of the word has been hijacked and morphed. He wasn't a liberal; he was a constitutional conservative and like Paul Wellstone, whether you liked his politics or not, NOBODY could ever say they were disingenuous.

[CoolBlue71]

Why wasn't he thinking about the issue of gays in the millitary while he was actively serving in the U.S. military? Mr. Goldwater was in the U.S. Senate over 30 years, first elected when he was already in his 40s. He was the 1964 Republican nominee for president of the United States the year he turned 55. Mr. Goldwater had lots of time. We are supposed to really believe he didn't reflect on the issue until after he left the Senate, at age 77, in 1987? (He turned 78 that year.)

[DukeofWellington91]

@CoolBlue71 Homosexuality was not an issue in the 50s, it was becoming an issue in the 60s but really it was far from the agenda. It was still illegal in England until 1967 and 1980 in Scotland, I don't know when it was in America but these things were not major issues of contention.

[CoolBlue71]

@DukeofWellington91 Homosexuality has always existed. All avenues of life. Even back then there was an awareness. Just not a consciousness for it in that period. (I don't think we're disagreeing; even if I sound for a moment as though we may be. Just a point that, after serving in office, we hear from Republican figures expressing support on issues of non-heterosexuals in marriage and/or military service.)

[mitziedoll]

univibe, I think Barry staying on the public payroll was neccesary in order to be a voice fighting for individual freedom. What if everyone on the public payroll were socialists because conservatives of Barrys stripe were all determined to get out on principle?

[univibe23]

It's an oxymoron for a True Conservative to stay on the Public Payroll for as many yrs as he did. He should have served, got out and made a honest living like the rest of us.

[shiftstart]

Yes Mr. McCain, unlike you, Mr Goldwater did know planes and more importantly, he didn't crash his planes. 

[RenShiWu]

Where did this video come from? Why is it full of liberal windbags - Ted Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, Helen Thomas, James Carville, etc. - pontificating about Barry Goldwater and his conservatism?

[loyaldude10]

I loved how Barry put it when asked about gays in military---"you don't have to be straight to be in the military, as long as you can shoot straight". And what he said about the Rev jerry Falwell--"every good Christian should kick him in his ass". RIP, Barry. You were one of a kind

[Tippersnore]

George's Will is a wealth-seeking neonut type of Repug. Goldwater would kick his little pretentious ass out of the traditional conservative room today.

[jojojigaboo]

I don't care for George Will and I do like Cronkite, however, Will is completely right.

Goldwater didn't become "liberal" as Cronkite states.

Will is correct in that how people framed the issues (and which issues) is what changed!

Cronkite surely knew better (or did he?)

[loyaldude10]

@jojojigaboo ---Barry never changed his principles or views. He was viewed as a right wing nut in the 60s, would be viewed as a left of ctr Repub if in office today. Too bad he's not around. And he was honest too!

[xaviqaz]

@loyaldude10 In the 1960s nobody talked about abortion because it was a state issue. Once moral issues become national, they become divisive. That´s why militant christians were pretty apolitical before the 70s and 80s. If the late Goldwater was truly a libertarian, he would be viewed as an extremist today.

[MIKECNW]

It's interesting how CC says how his family wasn't always a major priority.

Now I understand one who' in politics will naterally have to spend a lot of time away from family, but does that mean he might of overdid it?

[nacholibre48]

Libertarian leaning conservative is more like Barry Goldwater is.

[mikebhryan]

Muslim dress is conservative where as nudity is liberal. The dry counties all across America are conservative where as Amsterdam is liberal. A virgin is conservative where as a gluttonous Dionysian libertine is liberal. A penny pincher is consertive where as one that believes we only have one life so money is no matter is a liberal...you get the point.

[mikebhryan]

Muslim dress is conservative where as nudity is liberal. The dry counties all across America are conservative where as Amsterdam is liberal. A virgin is conservative where as a gluttonous Dionysian libertine is liberal. A penny pincher is consertive where as one that believes we only have one life so money is no matter is a liberal...you get the point.

[mikebhryan]

He was pro choice, pro fag, pro drug, atheist and he wasn't racist...won't find much of any of that in conservative politics these days. Perhaps you are confused by what it is that conservative and liberal mean.

[mikebhryan]

He was pro choice, pro fag, pro drug, atheist and he wasn't racist...won't find much of any of that in conservative politics these days. Perhaps you are confused by what it is that conservative and liberal mean.

[ScottAlmighty]

There ain't nothing "liberal" about Goldwater. He would probably spit in these democrats' faces over this healthcare crap.

[joshatkins94]

@ScottAlmighty and the republicans' faces over torture, illegal wiretapping, christian fanaticism, and the bailout.

[jojojigaboo]

@ScottAlmighty

he is a classical liberal, not a nanny state/modern liberal - that's the difference.

he would absolutely spit in a liberal's face today.

as any good spirit should!

[BlackRepublican2010]

@jojojigaboo Which classic liberal believed in states' rights, outside of George Wallace?

[loyaldude10]

@ScottAlmighty ---ur right. He would lambaste them (deservedly) and the Pres. But he would have also been lambasting the right wing Repubs a lot more than the Dems these days if he were still around. too bad no one like him today. McCain used to be a little like him but no more

[chrismcnuggett]

@loyaldude10 there is a man like barry goldwater today and that man is Ron Paul

[LeighMet]

@chrismcnuggett Ron paul is no barry goldwater. Goldwater is a Liberal compared to Paul.

[BlackRepublican2010]

Liberal revisionism by Goldwater's ultra liberal granddaughter. These liberals have no shame. I cannot wait until the documentaries coming out about how Jim Demint, George W. Bush, Michele Bachmann, Bill Frist were all closet liberals. This movie distorts Goldwater's legacy, particularly on many issues & his strong states' rights issues. All these movies about conservatives by liberals in hollywood can be summed up in one sentence: the only good conservative is a dead conservative.